Pittsfield Economic Development Panel Supports Wendell Ave. Housing Development

Agent Fahd Zia explained that there is much less demand for office space than for housing.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The council subcommittee on economic development supported efforts to transform a Wendell Avenue office building into mixed-income apartments.

On Thursday, the subcommittee voted in favor of a ten-year tax increment exemption for 100 Wendell Avenue and an amendment to the Housing Development Zone to include the property. 

Both items are for the state Housing Development Incentive Program that helps gateway cities develop market-rate housing.

AM Management wants to convert a commercial building into "The Pointe" with 28 units, six of them designated affordable.  The $3.8 million redevelopment would bring the assessed value of the property from about $517,000 to more than $1.8 million.

Agent Fahd Zia explained that there is much less demand for office space than for housing.

"It's financially difficult to continue operating a property like this," he said. "And so the best use is what we're going to do, what's needed, which is housing."

The TIE forgives 100 percent of taxes the first year and decreases by 10 percent each subsequent year.  The estimated taxes paid over ten years will be over $239,000 and will have an estimated savings of $147,000.

Director of Community Development Justine Dodds explained that this is not a subsidy, as it is an incremental exemption or deferral of the increase in real estate property tax from capital investments.

"As the developer invests a significant amount of capital into the property, the new assessed value is factored in and is incrementally increased over time over the life of the tax incentive," she said.

To Ward 3 Councilor Kevin Sherman, it's a "no lose" situation and "we can't state enough it's not a subsidy."

"The worst case scenario is we get an improved facility down the line at no cost to the city," he said. "And then further down the line, we do collect on that revenue."

The city adopted an HDIP zone several years ago around the downtown area and has expanded it to Tyler St. and other locations with updates in 2017, 2018, and 2020.  This amendment incorporates the Wendell Avenue property and 55 Linden Street, which also has the potential for housing development.

Pittsfield Celebrates Century-Old Red Oak on Arbor Day

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:13PM / Thursday, April 24, 2025

The Rev. Michael Denton says the world needs more 'rootedness' and that the oak has provided shade for many in need over the years. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city celebrated Arbor Day with a birthday party for a 100-year-old red oak tree outside United Church of Christ.

This included a cake and singing "Happy Birthday" to the stately organism that challenges the height of the adjacent buildings.

"The thing that always amazes me about trees is that when you look at the network of branches above it, that same thing is mimicked in the ground underneath it. When I think about that, it amazes me," the Rev. Miichael Denton said to a crowd in the church's yard.

"So when you look up at this, underneath us are even more intricate weavings of branches and roots that support what this tree does. As we look at these times and these days, we recognize that this world needs more of that rootedness. It needs to recognize those things that happen above and those things that happen below as we work in concert with each other, recognize that this planet that we live on is fragile, recognize that the planet that we live on needs our help, and by helping out this planet, we help out ourselves."

Most of the buildings at 110 South St. are more than 100 years old, and the tree was likely planted as a celebration of that work. It now stands about 75 feet tall.

"We don't know for sure, but what we do know is that this shade, this tree, has given shade to many of those who needed it," Denton said.

"This tree has given a quiet place for people to sit. This tree has helped keep this section of South Street green and beautiful."

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Program Manager James McGrath explained that while the city didn't plant a tree for Arbor Day, which is Friday, "We are doing a heck of a lot of tree planting." 

In the coming weeks, there will be 40 trees planted in a neighborhood off Elm Street, and additional trees will be planted as part of a volunteer effort with students from Wahconah Regional High School.